MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
A Division Of The
Department of Public Safety
Public Information and Education Division - PO Box 568 - Jefferson City, MO 65102
NEWS RELEASE

For further information please contact: Capt. John J. Hotz
Q10292020 (573) 526-6115

October 29, 2020
EMPHASIS: Colonel Eric T. Olson Announces Promotions

Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces the following promotions effective November 1, 2020:


Lieutenant Justin L. McCullough, Q/ESB, is being promoted to the rank of captain and designated commanding officer of Troop D, Springfield, MO.

McCullough was appointed to the Patrol on January 16, 2001, as a member of the 78th Recruit Class. Upon completing his training at the Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy, he was assigned to Troop I, Crawford County. In January 2007, he was promoted to the rank of corporal and designated assistant zone supervisor of Dent County. In October 2007, he began working as a commercial vehicle enforcement trooper. McCullough has worked in that capacity in both the Troop C, Weldon Spring, MO, and Troop I, Rolla, MO, areas. He was promoted to sergeant in 2009, and designated supervisor of Troop I’s commercial vehicle enforcement operations. McCullough was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and transferred to Troop F Headquarters, Jefferson City, effective December 1, 2013. On July 1, 2018, he transferred to the Executive Services Bureau, General Headquarters, Jefferson City, MO, where he served as the Patrol’s governmental affairs liaison.

Captain McCullough was born in Cape Girardeau, MO. He graduated from Jackson High School in Jackson, MO. In May 2000, he graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO, with a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice. Capt. McCullough and his wife, Stacy, have three children: Evan, Owen, and Olivia.

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Lieutenant Michael A. Petlansky, Q/WPD, is being promoted to the rank of captain and designated director of the Water Patrol Division, General Headquarters, Jefferson City, MO.

Petlansky was appointed to the Patrol on January 16, 2001, as a member of the 78th Recruit Class. After graduating from the Law Enforcement Academy, he was assigned to Troop A, Zone 3, Clay County. On September 1, 2004, he transferred to Troop C, Zone 13, Jefferson County. Petlansky was promoted to corporal and transferred to Troop C, Zone 1, North St. Louis County on May 28, 2006. He was promoted to sergeant on January 1, 2011, and designated zone supervisor of Troop C, Zone 2, North St. Louis County. On September 1, 2016, Petlansky was promoted to lieutenant and designated assistant director of the Water Patrol Division, General Headquarters, Jefferson City, MO.

Captain Petlansky was born in the city of St. Louis, MO, and graduated from Bishop DuBourg High School in St. Louis, in 1996. He then served honorably in the U.S. Coast Guard for four years. Petlansky earned an associate degree in criminal justice from Mineral Area College in Park Hills, MO, in 2001. He graduated from Leadership in Policing Organizations training in 2015. Capt. Petlansky and his wife Donna have two sons, Michael and Mason.

Photos of these two captains can be found with this news release on the Patrol’s website.

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Capt Justin McCullough.jpgCapt Michael Petlansky.jpg